Hockley County man receives seven years for cocaine possession

A Hockley County man was sentenced to seven years in prison by a judge in Levelland Wednesday.

Johnny Sanchez, 22, was arrested in March 2007 after his landlord found a large quantity of cocaine hidden inside a locked shed after Sanchez had moved from the property.

The drugs were found inside a can of baby formula.

Police later arrested Sanchez and charged him with possession of cocaine with intent to deliver. Investigators found 140 grams of cocaine - about five ounces - when they searched the shed where Sanchez had kept his belongings, according to Hockley County District Attorney Gary Goff.

On Aug. 14, a Hockley County jury found Sanchez guilty of possession of cocaine. On Wednesday, Judge Pat Phelan sentenced Sanchez to seven years in prison. Possible sentences ranged from two to 20 years.